DANIEL WYLIE - Ramshackle Beauty (Measured Records; www.danielwylie.com) Solo effort from the Cosmic Rough Riders frontman. "Make Love To The World" is the top song among the many chiming, jangly tracks.

LOOMER - Love Is A Dull Instrument (Newtone Records; www.loomeronline.com) Scott Loomer and his band mates have crafted the best alt-country album of the year. This terrific disc should delight Uncle Tupelo fans.

THE ROSENBERGS - Department Store Girl (Force MP Records; www.forcemp.com; www.therosenbergsband.com) Snappy Fountains Of Wayne-inspired power pop that should bring sunshine and smiles to even the gloomiest of days.

JEFF LARSON - Sepia (New Surf North; www.new-surf.com) Larson blends the soft rock of the 70s (America, Dan Fogelberg, Firefall) with his unbounded talents; the result is an excellent album that should make other indie singer/songwriters quite envious.

THE GRIP WEEDS - Giant On The Beach (Rainbow Quartz Records; www.rainbowquartz.com) The fourth superb psych-pop disc (Byrds, Who, Kinks, Amboy Dukes) from the House of Vibes group that deserves a wider audience.

CLIFF HILLIS - Better Living Through Compression (Not Lame; www.notlame.com) Every track on this disc sparkles with melodies and production that harken back to the golden era of Phil Spector and the Wrecking Crew. Power pop … with some Beach Boys touches added for good measure.

THE JELLYBRICKS - Power This (Kool Kat Records; www.Koolkatmusik.com) Mix Gin Blossoms melodies and guitar-pop with Matthew Sweet-like vocals, and you've got another winner from this New Jersey outfit!

CHRIS CHURCH - Let The Echo Decide (Jealousy Records; www.jealousy-records.com) From start to finish, this is one fine power pop album that begs comparison with Tommy Keene's portfolio of guitar-pop gems.

THE SPRING COLLECTION - The Spring Collection (self-released; available from Not Lame) Joe Mendoza, with help from brother Bart (of the Shambles), has released an exceptional disc that is overflowing with jangly tracks - including a Byrdsian version of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight." Think Shoes, Records and Shambles.

STARBYRD - On The Other Side Of Mad (self-released; www.starbyrd.org) Horst-Peter Schmidt and Graham Allman-Talbot have combined their talents to give us a glimpse of what a Roger McGuinn/George Harrison collaboration might have sounded like. This is a must for Rickenbacker 12-string fans!

ED JAMES - Big Time (Jealousy Records and Jam Recordings; www.jealousy-records.com; www.jamrecordings.com) Latest release from one of indie pop's most versatile artists - who crafts original pop tunes with a nod to predecessors from the past four decades.

THE CONTRAST - Fade Back In (Rainbow Quartz Records; www.rainbowquartz.com) Excellent Byrdsian retro-pop from a label that keeps its finger on the pulse of pseudo-60s pop.

JOHN HOSKINSON - Miscellaneous Heathen (Kaopeoths Records; www.johnhoskinson.com) This album showcases a singer/songwriter/musician that major label artists should learn to emulate. Think Beatles, Nillson, Squeeze, Marshall Crenshaw and the Finn Brothers.

JEFFREY FOSKETT - Stars In The Sand (The Pop Collective; www.popcollective.com) Another brilliant assortment of pop from the brightest artist among today's Beach Boys disciples. Foskett's albums always showcase his sparkling harmonies, huge hooks … and sing-along riffs and melodies.

THE MELROYS - The Melroys (95 North Records; www.95Northrecords.com) This St. Louis outfit has released the best jangle'n'twang country-pop album of the year. The Melroys compare favorably with the Volebeats, V-Roys and Walter Egan.

JEREMY - Lost And Found (Jam Recordings; www.jamrecordings.com) Jeremy Morris' best record to date. Lots of jangle, lots of pseudo-60s pop …. and a little more snap and crackle to go with the pop this time.

OL' YELLER - Sounder (SMA Records; www.olyellerband.com) This alt-country/roots-rock band has been quietly releasing some very fine records that should appeal to Neil Young and Crazy Horse fans … along with Blue Mountain loyalists.

VELVET CRUSH - Stereo Blues (Parasol Records; www.parasol.com) Paul Chastain and Ric Menck combine their talents once again - this time with production assistance from Adam Schmitt. The guitars crunch more than chime, but this represents a return to the "rock" side of their pop/rock repertoire.

TOMMY KEENE - Drowning: A Tommy Keene Miscellany (Not Lame; www.notlame.com) A 20-song compilation of tunes by the veteran indie guitar-pop artist who is a lifetime member of my Power Pop All Star Band. Chiming power pop at its best!

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